What happened
On July 10, 2013, a student pilot was conducting a solo cross-country navigation flight as part of their PPL training. The flight plan included legs between Guiscranness, Saint-Brieuc, and La Baule. The initial stages of the flight proceeded without incident.
As the aircraft approached La Baule-Escoublac aerodrome, the pilot contacted AFIS and entered the left-hand downwind for runway 11. The pilot maintained a speed of 75 knots, intentionally choosing a higher approach speed than the usual 65 knots to account for potential turbulence discussed during pre-flight briefing. During the final approach, the AFIS agent reported a wind from 040 degrees at 12 knots; however, the pilot did not realize the wind's intensity and did not request a repetition of the information.
During the flare, the aircraft began to oscillate vertically. On the third oscillation, the aircraft entered a right roll, and the main landing gear made contact with the runway. The nose gear subsequently struck the pavement with significant force, causing it to collapse. The aircraft slid across the runway, veered left, and eventually came to a stop in the grass. The Cessna 152, registered F-GBJS, sustained heavy damage.
The investigation
The investigation examined the pilot's experience, the meteorological conditions, and the aircraft's flight path. At the time of the accident, the pilot had approximately 40 total flight hours. Meteorological data from the La Baule station indicated variable winds between 40 and 60 degrees, with gusts ranging from 10 to 20 knots during the period of the accident. The flight manual for the Cessna 152 specifies a maximum demonstrated crosswind component of 12 knots for landing.
Findings
- The pilot did not identify the true intensity of the wind during the final approach.
- The aircraft encountered wind conditions that exceeded the recommended crosswind limits.
- The pilot's failure to initiate a go-around while the aircraft was destabilized during the flare may have contributed to the loss of control.